The semantic classification of phraseological units suggested by V.V.Vinogradov

The thematic or etymological classification of phraseological units suggested by L.P.Smith.

On this principle, idioms are classified according to their sorce of origin, things referring to the particular sphere of human activity, of life, of nature, of natural phenomena. L.P.Smith gives in his classification groups of idioms used by sailors, fishermen, soldiers, hunters and associated with the phenomena and conditions of their occupations. This principle of classification is sometimes called etymological. He also makes a special study of idioms borrowed from other languages, but that is only a relatively small part of his classification system.

Here the phraseological units are grouped according to the names of domestic and wild animals, arts, culture, birds, sport, cooking, agriculture, fishermen, sailors.

The thematic principle of classifying phraseological units has real merit but it does not take into consideration the linguistic characteristic features of the phraseological units.

Academician Vinogradov classifies phraseological units which was based on the semantic principle and it is considered by some linguists of today to be outdated, because it was the first classification system. Here phraseological units can be classified according to the degree of motivation of their meaning. He pointed out three types.

1) Fusions where the degree of motivation is very low, we cannot guess the meaning of the whole from the meanings of its components, they are highly idiomatic and cannot be translated word for word into other languages. These are word-groups with a completely changed meaning, but in contrast to the unities they are demotivated, that is, their meaning cannot be deduced from the meanings of the constituent parts.

2) Unities where the meaning of the whole can be guessed from the meanings of its components, but it is transferred (metaphorical or metonymical). These are word-groups with a completely changed meaning, that is, the meaning of the unit does not correspond to the meaning of its constituent parts. They are motivated units or putting it in another way, the meaning of the whole unit can be deduced from the meanings of the constituent parts.

3) Collocations or phraseological combinations where words are combined in their original meaning but their combinations are different in different languages. These are word-groups with a partially changed meaning. They may be said to be clearly motivated, that is, the meaning of the unit can be easily deduced from the meanings of its constituents. This group contains one component used in its direct meaning, while the other is used metaphorically.

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